Sharing pics of culprits on Facebook
Discussion
So we have had an incident in our village this evening.
Nothing that serious.
Someone has taken pics of the culprits after the event and posted them on the village FB page.
One of our members is telling us to take the pics down as its could jeopardise a court case and interfere with the judicial process, even warning us that the person posting them up could end up in court.
I'm calling BS, but would appreciate the view of the PH collective!!
Thanks!
Nothing that serious.
Someone has taken pics of the culprits after the event and posted them on the village FB page.
One of our members is telling us to take the pics down as its could jeopardise a court case and interfere with the judicial process, even warning us that the person posting them up could end up in court.
I'm calling BS, but would appreciate the view of the PH collective!!
Thanks!
RSTurboPaul said:
Have the offenders been charged with an offence that will require them to go to Crown Court?
NoIt happened this evening, I'd be amazed if the police even came out.
They have been offered the pictures but they weren't interested.
Edited by SteveR1979 on Monday 15th July 23:51
La Liga said:
There's nothing to stop people posting a picture of FB and asking if anyone can ID them.
There could be some ID issues but practically it's unlikely to be an issue.
Ask the person what the person posting them would be in court for.
That's what happened on our local FB group. Some scrote stole a car but there was perfect CCTV of him, posted up asking if anyone knows him and unfortunately for him was recognized within about 3 posts and viral around the town, Police was at his door within a few hours and car recovered.There could be some ID issues but practically it's unlikely to be an issue.
Ask the person what the person posting them would be in court for.
AbzGuyGTI said:
La Liga said:
There's nothing to stop people posting a picture of FB and asking if anyone can ID them.
There could be some ID issues but practically it's unlikely to be an issue.
Ask the person what the person posting them would be in court for.
That's what happened on our local FB group. Some scrote stole a car but there was perfect CCTV of him, posted up asking if anyone knows him and unfortunately for him was recognized within about 3 posts and viral around the town, Police was at his door within a few hours and car recovered.There could be some ID issues but practically it's unlikely to be an issue.
Ask the person what the person posting them would be in court for.
And old Dom would have to find a new job on Weekday lunchtimes
BMWBen said:
I expect there could be a legal issue if the post went something like:
"Look at this scrote who did xxx, help me identify them"
...and then it turned out that the person was neither a scrote nor had done xxx bad thing. IANAL but I believe that would be slander.
Slander is spoken. Libel is written/print/published. "Look at this scrote who did xxx, help me identify them"
...and then it turned out that the person was neither a scrote nor had done xxx bad thing. IANAL but I believe that would be slander.
You havent said the approx age of said culprits. If kids then expect different rules.
But in general, if this is a police matter leave it be. If the police won't come out then that's a failing of them. Is there a Local Neighbourhood Watch? Consider setting one up if not. You are likely to get more police co-operation, and ultimately advice on this sort of thing.
But in general, if this is a police matter leave it be. If the police won't come out then that's a failing of them. Is there a Local Neighbourhood Watch? Consider setting one up if not. You are likely to get more police co-operation, and ultimately advice on this sort of thing.
Fatball said:
BMWBen said:
I expect there could be a legal issue if the post went something like:
"Look at this scrote who did xxx, help me identify them"
...and then it turned out that the person was neither a scrote nor had done xxx bad thing. IANAL but I believe that would be slander.
Slander is spoken. Libel is written/print/published. "Look at this scrote who did xxx, help me identify them"
...and then it turned out that the person was neither a scrote nor had done xxx bad thing. IANAL but I believe that would be slander.
"xxx happened and we would like to identify or contact this person as they may be able to provide information"
would presumably be OK ??
tinytim123 said:
You havent said the approx age of said culprits. If kids then expect different rules.
But in general, if this is a police matter leave it be. If the police won't come out then that's a failing of them. Is there a Local Neighbourhood Watch? Consider setting one up if not. You are likely to get more police co-operation, and ultimately advice on this sort of thing.
I'd say late teens, 16+ easily.But in general, if this is a police matter leave it be. If the police won't come out then that's a failing of them. Is there a Local Neighbourhood Watch? Consider setting one up if not. You are likely to get more police co-operation, and ultimately advice on this sort of thing.
IANAL but as I understand it:
Posting CCTV footage or image captures of an event in process for ID purposes should be OK as long as the relevant regulations about filming in a public place, cctv notices etc and GDPR rules are adhered to. Responses to id information should remain private and any footage of a potential crime should be forwarded to the police.
Posting an unrelateved to the event photo of someone, and accusing them of a crime without a conviction for that crime, I would suggest is no no. It may possibly jeopardise any prosecution and may open the poster up to defamation action.
Posting CCTV footage or image captures of an event in process for ID purposes should be OK as long as the relevant regulations about filming in a public place, cctv notices etc and GDPR rules are adhered to. Responses to id information should remain private and any footage of a potential crime should be forwarded to the police.
Posting an unrelateved to the event photo of someone, and accusing them of a crime without a conviction for that crime, I would suggest is no no. It may possibly jeopardise any prosecution and may open the poster up to defamation action.
silverfoxcc said:
If it was a 'legal' problem to post a face on FB, then every private cctv camera in the UK would have to be shut down?
And old Dom would have to find a new job on Weekday lunchtimes
What about if someone has seen it with their eyes. Are they forbidden from talking about it for fear of ending up in court?And old Dom would have to find a new job on Weekday lunchtimes
Or maybe they have to have their eyes removed
Photo taken in public place has no right to privacy?
Of course you can post images of an incident on social media.
There are legal constraints once someone is in the thralls of being investigated, and these are too complex to be adequately covered in a PH post. Put briefly; if someone's in the frame, back off.
There can, in certain cases, be problems with identification with regards to posting images of a suspect where the public can view them. A subsequent identification procedure can be challenged in court. There have been a number of cases where the results have been blocked from evidence. However, that does not make the original posing illegal nor contempt of court. It could be seen as inadvisable though.
So two things are clear: posting such images can limit the chances of a conviction of the offenders and that Thankyouforcalling's post above is, without a doubt, way off.
There are legal constraints once someone is in the thralls of being investigated, and these are too complex to be adequately covered in a PH post. Put briefly; if someone's in the frame, back off.
There can, in certain cases, be problems with identification with regards to posting images of a suspect where the public can view them. A subsequent identification procedure can be challenged in court. There have been a number of cases where the results have been blocked from evidence. However, that does not make the original posing illegal nor contempt of court. It could be seen as inadvisable though.
So two things are clear: posting such images can limit the chances of a conviction of the offenders and that Thankyouforcalling's post above is, without a doubt, way off.
Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff